My absolute favorite album from 2024 was the debut release, Drifter, by young Louisiana singer Jovin Webb. His voice just captivated me, full of every blues emotion imaginable.

Drifter was a very easy choice for best album of the year. I called it "lowdown blues at its best."

For the last two years, I've been wondering what was next for Webb.

The wait is over and we now have the answer. No sophomore slump for this dude. I'm going to put myself out on a limb and declare Son of a Sinner even better than his debut album, and will likely be another easy choice for album of the year.

Webb's vocals and occasional harmonica are backed by a crack band of professionals, starting with drummer Tom Hambridge, who has now produced both Webb albums. Rounding out the band are Kenny Greenberg (guitar), Mike Rojas (piano/keyboards), and Tommy MacDonald (bass). It's a small group but they pack just the right sound behind the star of the show.

As with Drifter, every song on Son of a Sinner is an original composition except for one song. Webb closes the album with an incredibly emotional version of Duane Allman's "Whipping Post." It starts with a slower pace with acoustic guitar and humming until picking up the tempo with plenty of Allman-style guitar. It resembles the original yet Webb takes the song and makes it his own.

Now that we've covered the album closer, let's head to the front of the pack. Opening the album is a mid-tempo blues, "Gunpowder & Lead," as Webb sings his warning about having firearms, "... you're playing around with fire, mixing gunpowder and lead ..." Very nice piano work from Rojas and slide guitar from Greenberg.

"Pray For Me" is a fantastic number, a slow introspective heavy blues with Webb pouring out the emotions, admitting to his faults and vices but acknowledging that the devil won't let him go. If this song doesn't get consideration for blues song of the year, I may ask for a recount.

Webb changes the mood on "Every Time I Roll The Dice," as he shows his gratitude for what he's got going for him at his woman's house. He joins the band with a fine harmonica break, while we also hear more very good piano and slide guitar. "I Started Young" begins with tinkling gospel piano before Webb admits that he became a ladies man and a fulltime lover early in his life. Rojas switches to organ for tasty accompaniment here.

"These Boots" provides a bigger sound with Webb singing about his footwear on this up-tempo blues, with very nice harmonica and guitar opening the song. He uses a fishing analogy foro his pursuit of women on the blues shuffle, "Pull 'Em In," referring to advice that he got from his daddy.

"After The Rain" is a six-plus minute slow eerie blues packed with emotion, as Webb tells that woman that she can't treat him like a fool anymore as he's gotten back up and made it through the storm. The mid-tempo blues, "When I'm Gone," is kind of a follow-up to the previous cut, because now she's going to miss him after pushing him away.

The mood changes on "It's Alright," a feelgood blues that is a song of encouragement. The last original number is a sad, slow blues, "Crybaby," as his time on the road has affected his relationship with his woman, and now she's got a man who she doesn't have to chase. More fine solos from both Ramos and Greenberg.

Many thanks to Blind Pig Records for getting this amazing young bluesman recorded again. He's one of the best of the new breed of 20-something blues artists on the scene today, and I look forward to hearing what's next for Jovin Webb.

--- Bill Mitchell